The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-11-09
CONFEDERACY DAY.
An Bye Witness Tells What Re Saw Of tAe
0u,bursi At haecn Recently.
N.IDl.s Which should be Used for PART
san PurpOses-InteTview with n Repub-
ncan and sS-UniOn Soldier,

y II. ~
w. Clifford, gentleman we'll known 70 the
business men OF Nashville and Tennessee,
was present at the reunion OF ex-Confeder-
ates at Macon, Ca, which President Davis
attended and stood within few feet OF
him during the tcenes of the review OF
which the Northern Republican press have
had so much TO say. Mr.. Clifford located
in Nashville at the close of the war and
has been member Of two OF the largest
wholesale firms in the city, McAlister,
Clifford n Co. At present he is general
sgent for Tennessee and southern Ken
lucky Of several large manufacturing con-
Germs. No citizen is more highly respect Ted.
Mr. Clifford Is a pronounced Republican
and ex- Union- soldier. He is a member OF
George II. Thomas Post No. /, G.. A. X.
He has just returned from Georgia and in
an interview yesterday afternoon he said;
Ibaye no desire 70 parade my name in print
nor seek 70 be offci0us. ] trust that those who
know me do not regard me as a sensa ion
seeker or maker, but l feel IL my duty rs an
American citizen to protest against the wrong
which Is being done the people OF the South,
and more particularly of Georgia in the publi-
cations which are being made by leading Jour
mails OF my party in regard to the conduct Of ex-
Coniederates nj the Macon reunion aud the
conduct OF Mr. Davis. Every man who knows
me knows that was Union soldier ana have
always been nrm Republican in politics. IL
Ia true that the alleged incidents which are
made the basis OF this assault by the northern
and eastern press occurred in Georgia, but the
assault has widened until IL Is sous ut TO reflect
upon the loyalty OF the whole South.
Twas In Macon nearly a week, from Friday
night 20 saturday morning OF the next week. I
was there on business but met many old friends
among the ex-coniederates. / was never so
royalty entertained in my life. They knew that
] was Union veteran but that made no dd-
ference. Some Of the boys VINO used TO wear
the gray asked me why did not wear my
Grand Army badge, saying they would like to
see our baoge alongside theirs. A pressing in
yitRtiOn WIS extended 10 me snd other Union
soldiers 10 drop into line with the ex.Confed
crates and mArIh side by side with them. ]
have never IN my life seen city SO generally
and handsomely decorated Macon was.
There were lew Confederate flags huttering
out these were principally In front OF saloons
and underneath them were placards stating the
saloon was Con lederate headquarters" the
device evidently being q sharp dodge by the
saloon keeper 10 attract custom. ] saw few
Confederate hses on private buildings, but
wish to say that did not see single Confed
crate flag on house which was not surrounded
By scores VI the National hagS The National
colors were flying in all directions ] never
save them 50 Handsomely and numerously dis
played before In my life.
The occasion was reunion Of ex'COnied-
crates TO greet theie old President heiore ne
died, ano Was not surprised TO find these m
federate emblems, but say as a Union soldier,
Jealous OF TIE cause / fought for, that those
emblems were there, ! could plainly see,
merely a tender tribute TO fhe past aud the
magnificent defors lions with the National
-
whole conduct of the people evgnced a loyalty
20 the Onion, which no man could possibly
svpid recognizing.
wGs standing within ten feet OF Mr. Davis on
the front porch OF Col Johnson's residence
when the mt citing between him and the confed.
crate veterans, about which so much misrepre-
seDiation has been made, occurred. saw the
chair brought out and the old man take his
Seat In IL. HIS wife and daughters were about
him. Mr. Davis WAS very iuiirm, one could see
at a glance; he was much excited and so weak
that his family and friends feared the effect OF
the trying ordeal en- him. When the heal Of
the column entered the yard aud advancing 10
the railing OF the porch begged to shake hands
with him, his wife aud daughters took hold OF
his arms Rnd begged him 10 keep his seat re
mindiug him OF his feeble condition. They
we're Evlden tly alarmed about him and viewed
bis excitement with undisgussed trepidatIo =.
While they were imploring him TO be calm
and remain where he was, the flag was pushed
forward TO the railing. Mrs. Davis leGI. cd for
ward and plucking shred from its torn ana
battered folds, fell back in her chair aud put
ting her hands 20 her face began TO weep. The
scene was such that no man could have resist
its pathos. The old man who had presided over
lost cause. tottering on the verge Of the sc,
for the last time, he knew, was in the presence
OF those who had once followed him and were
bidding him an earthly farewell. Not an
eye in that vast assemblsge was dry. Men wcpt,
yes, but their tears were not disloyalty 10 the
Union, but forced from them by the sadness OF
the scene. Union soldiers who were there wept
and are not ashamed Of their emotion.
Ii was in this excitement that the isg was
pushed forward to Mr.. Davis. Rising vi an
effort, he convulsively snstched its folds aud
pressed them TO his lips, then fell back I'm his
chair exhausted. Then arose cries for Gov.
Gordon. he stepped TO the front and delivered
aspeech which was as loyal to the Union as any
John Sherman ever made. When ne referred
under one flag, the cheering was louder and
more spontaneous by far even then that which
greeted the incident of the flag. No man could
have looked upon that aSsemblage and heard
their shouts and honestly entertain the faintesl
idea that those people are oisloyal 10 the Union.
The flag was not torn to pieces by men eager TO
preserve relics OF the emblem which Jefferson
Davis had kissed. ss the Republican press
charge. 1t was quietly borne away and not a
shred was taken from Il except that by Mrs.
DaviF.
walked among the thousands OF ex -conled.
crates at Macon and talked with hundreds, and
declare wi all sincerity acd truthfulness.
that did not see or hear a single thing which
indicated any antagonism OF the Union. re-
member that after II was ali over, / was talking
with party OF men who had fought for the
Union, and happened like myself TO be In Ma
con on business and some one remarked that he
wondered II any attempt would be made by
tic Republican press 70 misrepresent the occa-
sion, end we sgreed that those who seek 20
make the people OF other sections believe tina!
these ex-confederatcs had acted az enemies 20
ments, would do nothing short of gross in JUS
tIce and that no man would have the depraved
Imagination 10 attempt 70 do so unles; he were
q sensational news correspondent.
AS men we thought we would be recteRnt TO
our sense and consciences 81 we failed 10 recOg-
nize the 10y atty among those veteran soldiers
now our pesceful fellow citizens ! see that the
press OF the North has done q great wrong.
know the Injustice OF the charges. and ii feel il
my duty 90 say what / know IL would be .
base ingratitude to the people among whom
live II did not raise my voice to protest sgains
| this N Misrepresentation.
One little circumstance illustrates the temper
OF the people. had occasion 10 spend q good
| deal OF time at the depot looking after freight
and frequently stopped to look At the gsily dec
GRATED cars, which had brought Mr.. DAVIS from
Mississippi. There were many flags on II, bu
every one was the flag OF our Nation.
RalfoursS War an OsRrIan